People mostly write about what they think love is, but I want to write about what I think it is not.

We do not really love someone if we believe we’re entitled to them in any way.

We do not really love someone if we ignore their feelings and thoughts, if we ignore that
they are a different human being with different desires and ideas than us, that they don’t
have to function according to our plans.

Most importantly, we need to remember that no one can owe us love or promise us forever. No one can exist or even survive within the limits of our minds. People will grow, people will change. People will never be the ideal image of them we carry around in our minds.

We cannot control or own people as if they’re pretty things of which we are fond.

If we ignore others’ own inner worlds and their right to exist and move in the world as they wish, if we demand that they fit into our lives in the ways that we find convenient, we do not love them. We only love ourselves (and even that is dubious).

If others are merely an object to us and we do not perceive them as being another person with a separate life and individuality, we do not and cannot love them.

If all of our reactions are based on fear of losing control or possessiveness, we do not love.

Love comes in many ways, it’s true. But this is all about fear. It’s sad how we get them mixed up,
sometimes even when the consequences are clear.

Love elephant and want to go steady?

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Apprentice Editor: Pamela Mooman / Editor: Catherine Monkman

Photo: Flickr